Like my fellow Macworld scribes Dan Miller and Dan Frakes , I ’m a Brobdingnagian lover of “ catapult ” covering — Butler in my case . However , not everyone witness launchers quite so sympathetic . Today ’s crest is for those who would rather not use a full - mess up catapult program , but would like some of the benefits — the only requirement is that you be running OS X 10.4 , as the tip bank onSpotlight .
As you probably lie with , you may launch applications and open documents by pressing Command - Space and then typing some of the letters in the program or document ’s name . TypeSaf , for illustration , and Safari will probably quickly show up as the top hit . While this work great for uniquely - named programs , things are n’t quite so absolved with documents , where you may have many with like names . For instance , say you have copies of your company ’s business programme going back a few class , with two design per twelvemonth . You ’ve named them for easy classification in their folder , i.e. Business Plan – 1st Half 2005,Business Plan – 2d one-half 2005 , etc . If you attempt to habituate Spotlight to open these documents , you may find that receive all the copy of the programme in the resolution is a bit puzzling . Enter Spotlight — or more specifically , Spotlight Comments . We touch on this subject back in the dusk of 2005 , but I feel it was deserving land up again , for it ’s one of Spotlight ’s more powerful features .
Using Spotlight Comments , you may establish your own indexing and filing system , which glare will then add to its index . To see how it works , switch to the Finder and choose any program or text file you wish , then press Command - I ( File - > Get Info ) . Near the top of the Info windowpane , you ’ll see a box labeled Spotlight Comments . This is the key to your own home - build indexing system — any text you enter here will be added to Spotlight ’s indicator .
To make affair even dewy-eyed , though , you’re able to create a Smart Folder based on your Spotlight Comment entries , giving you topnotch - flying entree to the undertaking files . In Finder , choice filing cabinet - > New Smart Folder . Set the location to be searched to Computer , and then select Other from the first crop up - up menu . In the list that appear , scroll down to Spotlight Comment and select it . ( Also check Add to Favorites if you ’ll be make a lot of these ; it will then come out in the main pop - up menu . ) clack OK , then vary the Contains pop - up to Is , and finally enter your Spotlight comment terminal figure in the white text box . When you ’re done , it should count something like this :
